Updated 6:41 a.m.
A pilot died Tuesday night after his single-engine air tanker crashed while responding to the Kruger Rock Fire.
First responders located the crash site and pilot around 10 p.m., several miles south of Estes Park. According to the Larimer County’s Sheriff’s Office, the plane went missing shortly after taking off around 6:30 p.m.
“All agencies on this fire are devastated by the loss of a dedicated and brave pilot and his plane,” said Justin Smith, the county’s sheriff, in a Facebook post.